Nigeria Content Online

The
World Cup is here and all over the sporting world, the current subject
is football’s most prestigious event currently holding in South Africa.
For a change, Africa is the centre of something positive even in the
most sceptical of the world’s media.

In Nigeria, the
media is bombarded with all sorts of promotional gimmicks in tune with
the allure of football as a passionate sport, unifying tool, and big
business. Leading names in sports reporting are in South Africa to
serve as the ears, eyes and voices of their respective media.
Relationships are being strengthened as many men have added reason to
stay home and watch; pay television subscriptions are being hurriedly
renewed; new television sets purchased and old ones fixed; viewing
centres are filled with football fans, all wanting a piece of the
action.

The event commands
attention in Nigeria for at least three reasons. As our most popular
sport it provides opportunity for our national team to put forward a
positive side of our national life. Football has a unifying bond, which
makes us suspend our artificial differences for the duration. During
the Nigerian civil war, football’s unifying bond was underscored when
the combatants ceased hostility for two days to follow on television
and radio a visiting Brazilian football team parading Pele and a
Nigerian side. The 2010 World Cup is Africa’s first in its 80 years and
therefore defines the continent’s entry into the global sports
organisation. Every success recorded in South Africa is a plus for
Africa and challenge to the rest of us of what is possible with
planning, and organisation.

I’ve always been a
football buff until the Super Eagles threatened to make me a regular
visitor to the cardiologist. I was not just a cheerleader; I played it
in school and even teamed up with schoolmates to establish a football
team, DAMEO Rovers, a name coined from the first initials of the names
of the five prime movers—Dante, Austin, Michael, Edgal and Olanrewaju.
I was so passionate about the game I would forgo the meal that
immediately followed the match if my school team lost. I remember one
occasion in 1970 when my emotional dam broke and I wept. My school, the
Lagos Baptist Academy, had looked good to win the Principals’ Cup. We
had crushed schools like Ansar ud Deen Isolo, St. Finbarr’s, and Yaba
College of Technology Secondary School, and booked a place in the semi
final with Zumuratul Islamiyya Grammar School.

A diminutive
player, named Haruna Ilerika combined so effectively with Mustapha (MM)
and Toye Ajagun that they beat our hitherto conquering team, 3-0. Our
goalkeeper was to complain that each time the ball went in he actually
saw two balls hurtling towards him. Before we knew it word was out that
the opposition had overwhelmed our boys with juju. It was an
explanation I repeated at home, which of course drew much derisive
laughter. Ilerika’s feat in later years for club and country has of
course disproved that theory.

My involvement with
football over the years has changed. After following the exploits of
the Eagles—Green, Flying, Baby and Eaglet—for four decades, I have come
to the conclusion that it is in my enlightened self-interest not to
rely too much on the Super Eagles. For a year now my defence mechanism
is not to watch any of their matches live so that I can live to tell
the story. So last Saturday while everywhere was agog with excitement
on the impending Nigeria-Argentina match, I had made up my mind not to
watch it. A wedding in the family had provided a convenient excuse. Its
reception was billed for the same time as the match. Ten minutes into
the match I decided to follow the match on my phone. It was a mistake
as I learnt the Argies had put in a goal in the sixth minute. For the
rest of the reception I switched my attention between the reception and
the match on my phone unable to enjoy either.

On my way home I
monitored fans’ reactions on radio. Most callers were satisfied that
Nigeria was not disgraced. They saw hope in the team and some hunger
for glory. When I got home I watched the repeat broadcast of the game.
The analysis reinforced what I heard earlier. There was much hope that
the Eagles would raise their game in subsequent matches and progress in
the competition. While my heart prays along with them my head cautions
it won’t be easy, considering Nigeria’s shoddy preparation.

It is worth
celebrating if Nigeria advances to the second round, which remains
Nigeria’s best performance in three World Cup appearances. As I wish
Nigerians good luck in the competition I will stick to my resolution
not to watch the Eagles play live today. I do not hate the Eagles. I
just love my heart more. Go, Eagles, go.